Fourteen runners have signed up for the 2020 Falmouth Road Race on behalf of Road to Responsibility (RTR), one of the region’s largest and most successful non-profit organizations dedicated to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is the third year in a row that RTR has fielded runners in this race.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Balance Falmouth Road Race is running as an At-Home Edition this year, from August 15 through August 29. Participants can run or walk, all at once or one mile a day for seven days. Upon finishing, participants will enter their time online and receive a digital finisher’s certificate.
This year’s roster of runners for Road to Responsibility include: Erica Defreitas of Plymouth and RTR staff member; Vanessa Demmons of Plymouth (Erica’s sister); Janice Boyd of Pembroke (RTR parent); Mike Doolan of Nashua, NH (vice president of Xerox Business Solutions); Randy Barril of Lunenburg (regional president of Xerox Business Solutions – one of RTR’s top sponsors); Robert Remiesiewicz, originally from Foxborough but now living in southern California; Julie Lennox of Kingston (RTR staff member); Jenny Ellis of Kingston; Bunny Cichocki of Weymouth (sister-in-law of RTR staff member); Dave Cichocki of Hull (husband of staff member); Josh Brennan of Whitman; Rebecca Ellis of Marshfield (RTR staff member); Leon Beeloo, a Rockland business owner; and Michele Brokmeier of Whitman. Each runner is required to set a $500 minimum fundraising goal. Several have already achieved this goal and continue to ask for donations, which can be made at: https://charity.gofundme.com/
The New Balance Falmouth Road Race was established in 1973 and has become one of the premier running events of the summer season. Each year the race draws an international field of Olympians, elite runners and recreational runners out to enjoy the scenic seven-mile seaside course. The non-profit Falmouth Road Race organization is dedicated to promoting health and fitness for all in its community. Proceeds from the race each year support youth athletic programs in the town of Falmouth and other non-profit community groups.
“We have RTR employees, sibling duos, and individuals getting involved in the first time with the Falmouth Road Race on behalf of RTR,” said Christopher White, Ed.D., CEO of Road To Responsibility. “Regardless of their relationship with RTR, they are all united by their desire to make lives better for the people and families we serve.
“We know it’s a challenging year for fundraising, and running virtually just isn’t the same, which makes us extra grateful to have had an overwhelming response of support from our runners on this year’s team!” White added. “With even more participants this year, we’re hopeful we can surpass last year’s contributions. Thank you to all of our supporters!”
About Road To Responsibility, Inc.
Celebrating over 30 years of making lives better, Road To Responsibility, Inc. (RTR) was established in 1988 with the overarching belief that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve to have full, rich, and rewarding lives in the community, and therefore works to provide the means, the opportunity, and the support necessary to allow citizens with disabilities to take their place as productive members of the community. RTR offers residential, work/employment, day habilitation and other day supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. RTR supports individuals with very diverse needs, including those with significant challenges who would otherwise go unserved if not for RTR. It succeeds where other organizations often fail, through the use of an integrated clinical behavioral approach. This model has proven successful and yielded positive results for the organization and the individuals served.
Road To Responsibility offers services to almost all the towns and communities throughout the South Shore and South Coast of Massachusetts, operates 48 residences as well as co-operative and supportive living apartments, and manages nine day-service locations that focus on education, employment, and community enrichment. Road To Responsibility’s main office is located at 1831 Ocean Street, Marshfield, MA. For more information, please visit www.roadtoresponsibility.org.
